There was a time when Radamel Falcao was the outright darling of Colombian football and, prior to this summer, regarded to be the nation's obvious hope when it came to competing in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Injury curtailed his involvement and, in his absence as a: the key player and b: the superstar, James Rodriguez stepped-up. That limelight was sustained even after Colombia's exit from the tournament in Brazil, as the playmaking midfielder departed AS Monaco to Real Madrid in a high-profile, big-money move.

This week, Falcao re-claimed the headlines. This week, the predatory box-finisher transferred to Manchester United on a season-long loan deal with a view to buy at the end of the temporary contract. This week, Falcao has been granted the chance of creating a new legend - one at Old Trafford - where he will no doubt draw instant comparisons to players like Ruud van Nistelrooy.

For El Espectador, Falcao joins a roster that contains three elite-level strikers but it is captain Wayne Rooney who they believe he will partner up front. The whole deadline day drama was one of "suspense", they write, as just days before the player had posted a message saying 'HalaMadrid dreams come true', indicating he may have been habouring a move to join his compatriot at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

"On Sunday… he spoke of Manchester United. Radamel passed medical examinations and the presentation was done in minutes."

Semana, meanwhile, called Manchester United "the biggest club in the world" and it will be Falcao's responsibility to ensure "the English team recovers the magnificent reputation it lost in recent months."

Critics point to the sales of players like Danny Welbeck and the recruitment of Daley Blind and Falcao as evidence that the soul of the club that Sir Alex Ferguson built has been taken from the club, as Manchester United now face the prospect of fielding a team of 11 players all educated elsewhere, rather than nurtured from within.

But Semana say Falcao's arrival represents a coup for United as he is "one of the most coveted players in the world."

Their report continued: "The Glazer family endured intense pressure to open the checkbook after the collapse of the team following the retirement of Alex Ferguson as their iconic coach in May 2013 after more than 26 years in office.

"And that need strengthened with early season as the team has not won in four games under Louis van Gaal, who was hired to stop the decline suffered by the club last season at the helm of David Moyes."

To date this season, Falcao has returned two goals from three games.

Alan Dawson

Alan Dawson is Here Is The City's sub-editor and sports writer. Formerly of Goal, Bleacher Report, Yahoo, Rant Sports and 90 Minutes magazine, he is also editor of boxing, MMA and pro wrestling website OnTheBeak.com and is the publicist at the Peacock Gym and Academy. His favourite athlete is Bernard Hopkins.